Hyundai Tucson Review

If ever there was a car that signalled just how much Hyundai has changed over the past two decades it’s the Tucson. This was a model that started out in the early 2000s as a budget 4x4 that delivered on value, but fell flat when it came to driving dynamics and general quality. 

The second-generation Tucson (named the iX35 in the UK as part of Hyundai’s naming strategy at the time) was an improvement and really helped to expand this South Korean manufacturer’s footprint in the UK. That then continued with the third-generation model, which reverted back to the Tucson nameplate and became Hyundai’s most popular model in the UK.

It’s arguably Hyundai’s most popular product and has successfully managed to evolve and adapt to suit its customers’ needs. Little wonder it’s now one of the best-selling new cars overall in the UK.

Hyundai has been quickly changing from a budget brand to a mainstream player and is now increasingly seen as a premium firm. The latest Tucson is a major milestone in showing just how much this South Korean firm has improved in recent years. 

Arriving on sale in 2021, the latest generation of Tucson showed off a striking new design direction for this South Korean firm and was an enormous step forward compared to its predecessor. Headed up by details like its Parametric grille, which features individual elements that illuminate, it’s arguably one of the best-looking premium SUVs around. The interior also had a massive makeover, adopting Hyundai’s latest in-car technology. 

Hyundai also expanded the choice of electrified Tucsons on offer, with regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions now available. 

Value for money

Hyundai’s Tucson was once a model bought explicitly for its low price, but those days are far gone. Today, it’s one of the priciest models at the more ‘mainstream’ end of the spectrum, costing around £2,000 more than the cheapest Kia Sportage and £4,000 more than the most affordable Nissan Qashqai. You do get a lot of equipment for your money, though, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and a reversing camera. 

The cheapest used Tucsons start from around £2,000, and an example of the last-generation car can be bought from around £9,000. Decent savings can already be had on the latest Tucson too, with a two-year-old example available from around £23,000. The regular hybrid versions are pricier though, and at the time of writing, started from around £27,000.

Looks and image

Previous Hyundai Tucsons have certainly been nothing to shout home about when it comes to design, but this latest version has dramatically changed that. Headed up by its ‘Parametric’ grille, which features elements in the grille that light up, it looks like nothing else on the road. Around the back, there’s an LED light bar, while the angular creases in this Hyundai’s design only add more street cred. You can take things up a level by choosing the sportier N-Line versions too. 

The interior of the Tucson has also moved up another level, and it’s a fantastic place to spend time. There’s a large touchscreen and digital dial display, while the gloss black touch panel for the climate looks smart too, though can be fiddly to use. The quality is generally good and feels upmarket, though some cheaper materials let the side down slightly. 

Behind the wheel, the Tucson is more targeted towards day-to-day ease of use than sportiness. It’s certainly a step up compared to its predecessor, and feels relatively agile for a mid-size SUV, while the full hybrid version offers plenty of pace. If comfort is a priority, we’d recommend an SE Connect or Premium version, which ride on smaller alloy wheels, as on the large 19-inch rims it can be quite firm.

Space and practicality

Hyundai increased the size of the latest Tucson, and much of that has gone into making it roomier than its predecessor. There’s a great deal of space on offer too, and it will go down well with families. There’s a great deal of room in the back, even for taller passengers, while the boot size varies between 558 and 616 litres, depending on the version. 

It’s the Hybrid version that is the most practical, interestingly, but all offer plenty of room. With the seats folded, there’s up to 1,799 litres of room on offer. 

Engines

Hyundai removed diesel-engined Tucsons as part of this new generation, but there’s still a plentiful choice of petrol and hybrid models. All versions are based around a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine too. 

Kicking off the line-up is the regular 148bhp petrol version mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which is the only non-electrified model on offer. Select it with a seven-speed automatic, however, and it then gets a fuel-saving mild-hybrid system. You can also choose it with four-wheel-drive, with this taking the power up to 177bhp. 

Up next is the standard Hybrid version, which produces 227bhp, and uses a six-speed automatic. With a 7.8-second 0-60mph time, this is the quickest Tucson in the line-up. Above this sits the plug-in hybrid, which gets a second electric motor, making it four-wheel-drive and putting out 261bhp in all. 

Running costs

On paper, where fuel economy is concerned, you’ll want to look at the plug-in hybrid, as once its 13.8kWh battery is charged, Hyundai claims up to 38 miles can be achieved on electric, which allows for a 201.8mpg fuel economy figure and 31g/km CO2 emissions. Nearly all your miles will need to be done on electricity to achieve such figures, however. 

If you aren’t able to charge regularly, it might be worth looking at the regular hybrid, which Hyundai claims 50.4mpg and 127g/km CO2 emissions for. The regular petrol models can prove thirsty, however, especially the four-wheel-drive 177bhp model that struggles to manage 40mpg on paper. 

Things to look out for

Hyundai generally has a very good reputation for reliability, and we expect this latest model to perform well, with no known problems with it yet. 

You’ve also got extra peace of mind with Hyundai’s five-year warranty, which, unlike most other manufacturers, doesn’t have a mileage limit – making it ideal for drivers clocking up lots of miles and those buying on the used market. 

Rivals

The Tucson competes in one of the most competitive new car classes around, and Hyundai faces plenty of competition. Key rivals include the mechanically-similar Kia Sportage, as well as the Ford Kuga, Volkswagen Tiguan and best-selling Nissan Qashqai. If you’re cross-shopping the Tucson with a more premium model, have a look at the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40, though these are both noticeably more expensive. 

Depreciation

Hyundais tend to hold their values much better than they did in the past, owing to their more upmarket and coveted status, and the Tucson certainly fits with that. Hybrid models and desirable N-Line versions are those that have the best residuals. 

That said, decent savings can still be had by looking at nearly-new models, and you’ll still benefit from a decent number of years left on the warranty.